When our daughter got married we bought a wrought iron heart shaped plant stand that had a Welcome sign on it. We placed a beautiful small green fern in the stand and positioned it at the entrance of the wedding venue where each guest could see the Welcome sign and the fern and we hoped feel welcome.
After the wedding my husband and I brought the plant stand and the fern home. My husband appointed himself the caretaker of the fern. He got no argument from me. The plant stand was put in front of the house with a petunia in it and the fern found it's home under the patio cover in the backyard right outside the sliding glass door so we could see it. She was lovely!!
She liked the backyard under the patio cover and she grew. She seemed very happy and she grew some more. Finally she was outgrowing the small pot she came home in so my hubby transplanted her into a fairly wide, fairly deep pot. And she was really happy.
My husband dubbed her "The Love Fern". He may have taken that from the movie "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. But don't quote me on that. Or it could be that she was named the Love Fern because she came to us through a wedding - weddings happen because of love - get it??? At any rate our Love Fern is the exact opposite of the Love Fern in the movie. The irony of that is definitely something that would appeal to him.
So, back to The Love Fern. She just kept growing and more and more fronds were reaching and stretching their lush green arms. Personally, I think The Love Fern is in love with her caretaker. He lovingly transplanted her when she needed it. He waters and feeds her lavishly and regularly. His tender loving care is why she is so exquisite. Perhaps the feelings are mutual and he loves her, too! A friend was visiting recently and when she saw The Love Fern she was astonished. She told me she had lived in Kentucky and had never in her life seen a fern so gigantic and she said - "I have seen ALOT of ferns."
There is a lesson to be learned here. All things grow with Love/Love makes all things grow. Not just plants, but people, too! Love is the key to most everything. Use that key freely, lavishly and regularly, when people need it and even when they don't and see what grows.
One last point - my husbands idea is to split The Love Fern and give a piece to each of our children. The Love Fern will be shared amongst our family. How totally cool is that? Love isn't love until you give it away.
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:12
"This is my command: Love each other." John 15:17
"Be kind and loving to each other." Ephesians 4:32
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| "The Love Fern" |
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